melodiesoflife | Event || The Answer

Event || The Answer

Characters: All characters who signed-up for the event.
Where: South Continent of Balance (Imperial Territories)
When: April 20th to April 30th.
Summary: The Heroes of Light have lost consciousness and now find themselves in the middle of nowhere, without their Moogles and away from everything they know. They will have to get back home, but what awaits them on the path? For more information, please check the First OOC Post and Second OOC Post.
Warning: Bad things.

Group 01: Team Hijinks House
Group 02: Team Brigands
Group 03: Team Discovery Channel
Group 04: Sephiroth's (In)Sanity Squad
Group 05: Team (Bad) Shipping Advice
Group 06: Team Blue-Haired Lords on Fire
Group 07: Team Mom and Late Sleepers
Group 08: Nothing Bad Will Happen
Group 09: The Hellhounds
Group 10: Loftwings, A Working Title
Group 11: Team Oni
Group 12: Team F.N.T.I²
Group 13: Team Name-In-Progress
Group 14: Team The-Mods-Couldn’t-Brain-A-Name
Group 15: Seraphim Shenanigans

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[At first, there's no end to the path. The children run down the curving dirt path, and just as the group has them in their sight, they dash off to the side, following a trail mostly covered in grass. The trees grow thicker and block out most of the sunlight.The children do not get tired at all during this, remaining just as full of energy from the start. Ten minutes may have passed, fifteen, time is hard to measure this deep into the woods. But just as the group appears to have caught up with the children, they veer off the path one last time.

When the group follows, the children are gone. Strange, since they now face a large clearing with little place to hide. The dirt is dry and sandy, the trees stand around the clearing in neat rows, and the bushes are small, if not dying.

Standing on the opposite end in the shadows appear to be two figures, one average of height and one short.]

[Yugi looked up at the sky, trying to see if he could tell how far they had gone in and it was soon obvious to him that he had no clue or even how long they had been walking for.

So with that in mind his eyes went to looking forward again. He had made sure to stay behind the others before they reached the clearing. Looking around he was checking to see where the kids had gone.]

That's... odd. Where did they go? [His eyes soon paused on the two figures as he looked slightly baffled. Where did they come from?]

Who are they, though?

[ Hinata just nods simply in reply; he understands the risks of separating, but offered it as an option in case. He stops in his tracks, if only because shadows don't exactly give him a feeling of confidence. ]

I don't know. Maybe... these two were the ones causing it?

[Saori's eyes darted for any sign of the dopperganger children. Even if they were copies, her heart sank in disappointment not getting to see them up close. That moment of sadness was gone when her eyes focused on the two shadows.]

That's a strong possibility. This area is too open for my liking.

[She spoke up louder for the shadows to hear. Her wrists tensed, ready to trigger her hidden blades if they came too close.]

Did you bring us here?

[Kidd curses inwardly at being equipped with her mage jobs at the moment rather than the Assassin job. She can open her senses as she's trained herself, but not nearly to the utility of the power the job grants.

But Saori is here. Mary knows in her heart she can count on the other woman, not just as an Assassin but as a partner...and more. The tone she uses to call out to the children reaches her on a level she tries not to think about too often.

She says nothing but watches the treeline, waiting for something to happen.]

[Of the shadows, only one figure emerged. The figure struck familiar in its unusual height and shape as the silhouette manifested in their field of vision. Once tangible, the shape became more obvious and resembled someone they knew.

A deviant expression painted the face that mirrored another, though darker in complexion.]

Relying on others again?

[Yugi sneered at pointedly toward the original.]

[Yugi seemed tense as they figure had gotten closer, his hands lightly moving to his side, unsure of what to do. They didn't look like they were going to attack, so he settled a little bit.

That was until he saw who it actually was. Eyes widen slightly. That was most definitely him and he didn't look all to happy.

Relying on others again? He was certain that one was aimed at him. Still seeming a little baffled, Yugi was looking back, trying his best to be confident as he spoke.]

I am not relying on others, we are working as a team.

[Yugi's lips parted as he scoffed at the excuse. Somethings just never change. ]

What have you done to help them besides tag-along?

You're a leech.

[This Yugi also had a Millennium puzzle draped around his neck, and striking similar in appearance, as if it could be the real thing.]

Another doppleganger? Something's odd about this one though.

[For one, this one clearly called one of them out. She activated Eagle Vison, eyes scanning the edge of the clearing while marking the two targets in front of them.]

[He had glanced over toward the other as she spoke. Someone was different. Especially since he was saying something that well... a doppleganger wouldn't be able to remember, or at least he was positive off since he saw the other him often here.

But Yugi couldn't help but look at the puzzle. That was even more weird as he looked down at his own. He didn't think he should have that, right?]

Yeah, I agree. There is a lot that's different from a normal doppleganger...Including the item around his neck. It's...too similar to what I have and I am not certain, but I am pretty sure they should have items like that.

[He frowns slightly.]

I have been plenty useful before now. I have helped. I may not like being on the front lines and fighting is not my thing, I still don't leech.

I don't know about that.

[ Hinata speaks up, pressing his lips together as he glances at the doppelganger and then the real one. ]

Even though I haven't been here long enough to discern what doppelgangers are like in this world, it's possible that they could become replicas. And -- [ A beat, as he clears his throat and points at the copy ] people can do things besides fighting to help out in the first place, anyway!

[Mary's eyes go wide at the emergence of the newcomer, but then they narrow just as quickly. She's had her own encounters with the doppelgangers to be sure, but she's never seen one address a Hero with such familiarity, let alone venom.]

The young man speaks true. He's been doing his fair share of everything we've been dealing with here. And even then there's no shame in relying on others. No ship will sail with just one person. You need a crew if you're keen on surviving the voyage.

[Doppelgangers...replicas...almost as if this is a...]

Wait...Could this be one of the Shadows that Kalki mentioned? I thought they weren't to be found in this world.

Besides fighting? [The small figure raised his arms in a questionings gesture.] Don't make me laugh.

He couldn't even do anything when he nearly burned to death over this. [Yugi mentioned, referencing the Millennium puzzle.]

Without Jonouchi or Honda, he'd be nothing but ash.

Shadows?

[He paused for a moment, thinking about it. He didn't know much about what she had said, but he nervously looked over toward the other. He was still hearing every word this other said and it was worrying. That was at least true. Though that was not the first time he nearly died...]

True, I couldn't have done anything, but I had a reason to stay there until my friend had to get me out. I just couldn't leave another friend behind.

[He had wanted the puzzle to survive at least. That had always been his priority.]

[ Shadows... kind of remind him of something that Hinata himself doesn't want to remember, so he shakes it off; this isn't about him. Clenching his hand into a tight, balled fist, he knits his brows.

But first... ]

Do you know anything about these shadows, then? [ Is there a possibility of his showing up? He kind of doesn't want that. But then he turns his attention back to the other Yugi. ]

In any case, are you simply just going to go back and forth like this? You're only stating one instance in his life; that alone doesn't define him.

The time when he couldn't rescue Anzu from the pervert who tried to exploit her for his advantage. Without our friend, she would have suffered.

Who lets their friend face off against a known serial killer at Death-T? He's standing beside you.

[Yugi folded his arms over his chest as he spoke with a harsh tone. Despite only providing three examples, he still had a whole list of incidents that he had yet to mention, but he wasn't a fan of hearing himself talk.]

Do I have to keep going? When are you going to realize you're useless?

It might be. After all, it's supposed to be made of our inner negativity and what not. That doesn't explain why it's here though.

[Saori blinks as the copy listed his examples and shakes her head.]

Wow....you're really taking those examples out of context aren't you? It's one thing to mention incidents but not the circumstances that lead to them is rather weak. Our time with Yugi has proven to us he's not weak. What's your point?

Inner negativity... That explains it... [It had been something he was very sub concious about. Being weak, having to rely on others because of either what he believed in or because people have to step in.]

Circumstances...It's complicated to explain from me right now, but maybe after this is over. But a lot of them my friends shouldn't have gotten involved in.

[He sighed slightly.]

I do believe I am weak. At least compared to someone I know... Even after being here for a year, I still feel it sometimes.

[Mary listens to the exchange, her brow furrowing as she listens to the accusations. It seems the young Hero has had a far more dangerous life than she'd known. She'd have to speak to him about it sometime, but now was certainly not the time to pry for details.

Stepping up, she places her hand on his shoulder.]

There's no shame in thinking you're weak as long as you understand that's not all of you. If you're aware of your weaknesses then you can do something about them. It's those who are blind to their shortcomings that are the real fools.

[Her eyes drift to the other Yugi, giving him a glare daring him to do something.]

None of us are perfectly strong. We all have our weaknesses. And having friends who will help us close those gaps means that he has a strong heart.

[She looks back down at her own Yugi and smiles.]

If your friends got involved, they did it because they didn't want to see you get hurt. Don't let him make you think that the guilt you feel outweighs their feelings for you.

So you're okay with friends making sacrifices haphazardly because its the right thing to do? Like losing their minds to the shadow realm?

[Many of them had fallen victim, and sometimes the damage could even be permanent.]

How much is too much before it's too late? Only so many people can stick their neck out before it gets cut off.

[Yugi couldn't speak for a moment or two, the words really starting to sink in. He knew there was a limit and he knew what could happen and he was aware of how bad it would get. The young man soon found himself sinking to the floor. He didn't appear to want to talk right now. Maybe the words were getting a little too much to handle.]

[ Yugi may not want to talk, but Hinata is going to attempt and cut through those words. ]

... So what? That's not your decision to make, what's right and wrong for them. You can decide whether or not it's okay, sure, and make actions appropriate to the situation, sure. And I know that this is none of my business, but--

[ A beat. ]

What good does it do to dig up the past like that?

To chip away at Yugi mentally, of course. A cheap but dirty tactic. We all have our share of negativity and secrets so it's common for us to keep it buried and pray no one finds them.

[Saori walked over to Yugi and got down, gently putting her hands on her shoulder.]

Yugi, hear me out. Your friends did what they had to do because they sincerely care for you. The same goes if they ever got angry with you. I think it's safe to say they know you would've done the same if the situation was reversed. Also remember that strength comes in many forms. If this is truly your shadow, remember it's only one part of you and not all of it. Don't let the despair consume you.

Sacrifices that would have never happened if he could stand up for himself.

[The original Yugi will start to find himself consumed by his own darkness, should he not come out of it.]

Just accept the fact that you can't do anything without someone there to hold your hand through it. Pathetic.

[He could feel something, but couldn't quite figure it out. He couldn't snap out of it and it was just making it worse. However as he looked up and around to the others, they were all trying to help him, but he wasn't sure if that was a good thing or not.]

He... has a point though. I'm not strong and I do rely on people...I am weak in that area. But... My friends do make up for that, even though I wish they wouldn't get involved. I accept it and I at least accept it's a part of who I am.

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